Vic minister vows to continue alpine grazing

Updated
Wed Apr 13 14:33:00 EST 2011

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Ryan Smith says the trial will continue but they are still working on the details.

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The Victorian Government has decided to return cattle grazing to the Alpine National Park next season, despite telling the Federal Government that they had no definite timetable for grazing trials to continue.

In January, 400 cattle were released into the park as part of a trial by the Victorian Government, to determine if grazing reduces the risk of bushfire.

However the trial did not have Commonwealth approval.

The Federal Environment Minister, Tony Burke, has ordered the cattle out of the park.

However today, the Victorian Environment Minister, Ryan Smith, told ABC Local Radio the trial will continue.

"We just haven't put together the details of how it will go forward. We're taking a careful approach, we're using the data collected over the last few months to inform the next stage," he said.

"We also want to be very open and transparent so that when the plan is put together, when Professor [Mark] Adams is advising us on it, there will be a panel overseeing that, who can ask the questions that perhaps need to be asked."

Cam Walker from Friends of the Earth says conservation groups had been hoping the cattle grazing trial would be abandoned.

"The fact that the cows are now out for the year gave the Government a great opportunity to reconsider and for common sense to prevail," he said.